Brno
Czech Republic
UNESCO City of Music
since 2017
Brno is unique in its multicultural tradition (Bohemian, Moravian, German, Jewish and Romani cultures) and the whole South-Moravian region has a long and rich folk music tradition. The City of Brno has established 10 cultural organisations (including an opera house, musical theatre and philharmonic orchestra). These are complemented by an exceptionally rich and varied range of associations, agencies, ensembles and artists.
Musical personalities associated with Brno include Leoš Janáček, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Pavel Haas, Bohuslav Martinů, Magdalena Kožená, Iva Bittová and Woody Vasulka. Established institutions that continue to operate include the folklore association Slovácký krúžek (1908), the Brno Conservatory (1919), the Gustav Brom Bigband (1940), the Brno Philharmonic (1956) and the Exposition of New Music festival (since 1987).
The city’s economy is oriented toward services, specialized technologies and the trade fair business; there is substantial representation of the music industry and the creative sector of the economy. Science, technology, research and education are also significantly developed.
Brno cooperates with 16 partner cities and, is a member of international networks of cities with music components, e.g. EFA, CENTROPE, EUROCITIES, LIKE and partner networks (Horizon 2020, URBACT).
As a Creative City of Music, Brno envisages:
- work together with other UCCN cities on the creation of new international projects, residencies and educational programs;
- enhance on international recognition of the historically rooted musical identity of Brno as the central representative of a region that is unusually fertile musically
- strengthen the cultural and creative industries as strategic pillars of the city‘s development, in long-term
- create a working scheme for inclusion of young culture managers within the music cities meetings